Emad Salem: Taking Advocacy Local

Arab Americans are taking action locally all across the country. They are calling and emailing officials in their state legislatures, in Congress and the U.S. Senate as well as their Governors' offices. Even better, they are requesting meetings with elected officials and bringing other constituents along to make a greater impact. They’re also hosting community meetings to discuss what can be done on the local and state level to protect sanctuary cities, address hate crimes and fight for free speech.

Emad Salem is a 2016 DNC Delegate and Senate District 10 Committeeman for the Texas State Democratic Executive Committee who is organizing where it really matters – locally. On Tuesday, he joined seven other constituents, to meet with Callen McLochlin, the Regional Director for Texas Senator John Cornyn. They voiced their concerns about the confirmation of three cabinet positions: Senator Jeff Sessions for Attorney General, nominee for Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and former Governor Rick Perry for Energy Secretary. “I spoke against the confirmation of Jeff Sessions and urged Senator Cornyn to vote no. Senator Sessions’ record is horrible when it comes to the treatment of African Americans and other minorities. There were also over a thousand law school professors who sent a letter to the U.S. Senate asking them not to confirm Senator Sessions.”

We are encouraging all Arab Americans to weigh in on cabinet nominations they are concerned about and on our key issues to build their relationships with elected officials. To get you started, AAI created the 2017 Advocacy Roadmap, a local action toolkit that breaks down the issues and explains best practices for how to engage. It is important to voice your opinion now, so that others do not speak for you in the future.